Leading the Charge 2017 Road Trip

The last two LeadingTheCharge roads trips were very popular and very successful. Everyone that helped or participated had such a good time we thought we should do it again!

We have planned the trip to have us arrive in Wellington for the MTA 100 celebration and show. We will have a large stand at the show and be letting the public test drive several brands of electric vehicle. You can see the events as they are loaded at this link

We had 5 electric cars that went all the way in 2016 and have over a dozen for 2017. In fact a route has been planned for a Leaf and two non REX BMW i3, two Hyundai IONIQs and a Zoe. The Mitsubishi Outlander is coming again and we are being joined by Audi. And of course we have six Tesla Model S vehicles.

If you want to join us for some or all of the trip check out the event listing and turn up to be part of the fun. Your support makes the trip work and besides we want to meet as many NZ EV owners as we can!

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Happy to be part of organising something in New Plymouth. We had a fun EV sharing day recently in Huatoki Plaza on Devon Street in the CBD (the main street). Due to this, I’m in touch with many of local electric car owners. We have lots of Leafs, a Tesla, and a brand new Hyundai is about to arrive this week.

Avner Nahmias commented
2017-03-15 13:56:40 +1300

Love to join with my Leaf for part of South Island tour. Details please.
Also happy to offer 40% off on our Big Sky Nelson B&B rate to participants. Two eco modern rooms available. $295 for two nights, with breakfast.
There are two Leafs living up our road, at 300m above sea level, majestic views acriss the Bay.

Kathryn Trounson commented
2017-03-10 20:27:31 +1300

Thanks for offer, Henrik! We will get back to you once we nail which cars are going which route!

Roy Gormley commented
2017-03-05 23:23:46 +1300

Hi I have a tesla p85. Would be keen to do Taupo to Auckland or Auckland north, cheers Roy

Henrik Moller commented
2017-03-03 17:47:15 +1300

My wife (Fiona Stirling) and I (Henrik Moller) have a house at Tumai, 5 Km out near the coast from Waikouaiti (a small town 42 Km north of Dunedin) with a 16 Amp Commando plug (and easy access to several 8 amp standard house plugs). A full charge on our 24 kWh Gen 2 Leaf can just reach the Waimate rapid charger if you are careful (on one leg recently we needed a short top up at the Glenavy motorcamp because prolonged rain forced use of wipers and demister and added drag). So you could use our Tumai house as a staging post on the night of 20 April if you need accommodation (we have beds for two couples and then it’s down to single matresses on the floor) or just drop in to charge and have a meal with us before setting off north without sleeping over. Please ring me on 027 2268688 or email to henrik.moller@otago.ac.nz if this suits so we can check that room remains and make sure we have enough for you to eat. Cheers

Sean Dick commented
2017-02-16 22:10:04 +1300

There will be cars to drive in Christchurch Hayden. But probable not a Tesla. Keep an eye out here and on the Facebook page for details of the event in Christchurch. It will be posted in our Events page when it is finalised.

Hayden Allan commented
2017-02-16 21:25:35 +1300

Can I drive one in Christchurch? I have a full license

Margaret Baker commented
2017-02-14 10:05:55 +1300

I am absolutely ovr the moon with excitement to be coming along for the whole trip this year! I don’t care what car you put me in Dee… honest! But you know my preference! 😉 Can’t wait!

Martin Evans commented
2017-01-30 11:15:32 +1300

I’d like to do Wellington to Cape Reinga. Tesla S85D

Donald Love commented
2017-01-26 10:13:49 +1300

I would like to do the South Island starting from Wellington if there was room for another Leaf. Working through charge options for Gen 2 Leaf and it seems ok but upper South Island a bit more effort.

Steve Withers commented
2017-01-15 21:56:30 +1300

Melissa and I are looking at doing the whole trip – Invercargill to Cape Reinga – in our 30kWh LEAF. Most of the route is already easily do-able. I think we can cope with any gaps with 2-3 hours of 16amp charging at strategic spots. :-)

Helen Damer commented
2017-01-04 12:19:26 +1300

Hi, Great idea! I am the proud driver of a nissan leaf Gen 1 and would like to join the trip from AK to Whangarei… and maybe further north.

Philip Ivanier commented
2016-12-23 05:06:16 +1300

Hi, I’d like to join from the 7th to the top of our great country.

Sean Dick commented
2016-12-02 15:12:22 +1300

Hi Ron, Yes a Gen 1 leaf would be a bit tricky for the entire trip. But that does’t mean you can’t meet us at some places. Watch out for the road map which is coming together. Looks like a kick off in Invercargill on the 19th April.

Ron Tyson commented
2016-12-02 09:54:43 +1300

Not sure what Range you will be designing this trip for – I have a Nissan Leaf Gen 1with a great Battery but – Too ambitious?

Sean Dick commented
2016-12-01 19:17:14 +1300

Aftaab, we are looking at Queenstown. Maybe around 20th April.

We would need a local Champion. Find some place to meet and hold drives and rides.?

Aftaab Singh Sandhu commented
2016-12-01 18:08:05 +1300

You guys should definitely include Queenstown on your future road trips, here in the mighty Central Otago… #LeadingTheCharge

Ron Tyson commented
2016-11-01 09:44:03 +1300

Sounds great and would love to get involved.

Jeremy Butler commented
2016-10-24 21:33:15 +1300

Hi, it would be great if this year you could detour off SH1 and come over to Nelson. Either just a side trip from Blenheim, or through the Lewis Pass, Springs Junction and Murchison. Then off to the ferry via Blenheim. This would only mean that you miss Kaikoura.
Happy to do some local groundwork in Nelson to help.